"Wolves attack people. Initial attacks are clumsy, as the wolves have not yet learned how to take down efficiently a new prey. Persons attacked can often escape because of the clumsiness of the attacks. A mature, courageous man may beat off or strangulate an attacking wolf. However, against a wolf pack, there is no defense. Even two able and armed men may be killed. Wolves as a pack are hunters so capable a predator that they may take down black bears and even grizzly bears." "When do Wolves Become Dangerous to Humans"? by Valerius Geist, Ph.D.

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 24, 2014 - Today, the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulations held an oversight hearing on “Threats, Intimidation and Bullying by Federal Land Managing Agencies.” This hearing continued Committee oversight into bullying by federal land management agencies and federal law enforcement agencies on private, state, and federal lands.

State and local governments, ranchers, business owners, and private citizens have been subject to threats, lack of cooperation, and numerous unfair or heavy-handed tactics which threaten public safety, the environment, endangered species, and the livelihoods of communities. Congressional oversight is necessary to provide an effective check on federal officials who abuse their regulatory powers.

“Today we took a second look at threats, intimidation and bullying by Federal Land Managing Agencies. During a hearing the Committee held last year and again today, we heard first-hand accounts of mistreatment at the hands of federal officials seeking to extort the witnesses into relinquishing their property rights,” said Representative Doug LaMalfa (CA-01). “These firsthand accounts give the victims of abusive conduct by a federal land managing official a chance to tell their story to Congress. Status quo agency oversight, policies and procedures are inadequate for addressing or deterring employee abuses and may instead embolden overreaching or malicious employee behavior with little risk of retribution for their actions.”

Witnesses highlighted examples of flagrant intimidation met by citizens who refuse to surrender their constitutional rights, land and water rights, grazing permits and other multiple-use benefits.

Sheriff James Perkins, Garfield County, UT, highlighted his perspective from 27 years of law enforcement and experience working with various federal law enforcement agencies.

“BLM’s attitude towards coordinating with local law enforcement is summed up best by a conversation I had with a BLM law enforcement officer while we were attending a drug task force meeting in Cedar City, Utah. He told me point blank that he didn’t care about any authority that I thought I had as the Garfield County Sheriff, and that he did not feel like he had to coordinate anything through my office… This refusal to coordinate, coupled with a lack of any meaningful oversight, has created a perfect environment where the abuse of federal law enforcement powers can occur.”

Governor Jan Brewer recently vetoed SB1211, which would have given Arizona ranchers and their families some protection against the maulings and killings by Mexican wolves of their livestock. See "Arizona Governor Vetoes bill allowing ranchers to kill endangered wolves." Not only is she disinterested in the social and economic adversity caused by Mexican wolves, but she has also conceded, without a whisper of objection, that 50% of Arizona is "federal land."

Both Governor Brewer and J. W. Harris have plenty of staff and research assistance, so they know that their protections of Mexican wolves are hurting Arizona families. Is the suffering of our fellow Arizonans no more than simply "taking one for the team"? Apparently, it is. It's ok with Brewer. It's ok with Harris. It's also ok with every Democrat Arizona legislator, because every one of them voted against protecting their fellow Arizonans against the well documented predations of the Mexican wolf.

They know everything I'm going to show you. These pictures are gruesome. If pictures make you uncomfortable, please understand that children and their parents and friends are forced to experience this against their will, not just see pictures of it. Please note that psychologists have identified PTSD in these children in rural Arizona and New Mexico.

Please join me as we make our journey into the Arizona and New Mexico lands where the Mexican wolf is King.

Here's a photo of one of 5 small calves lost to Mexican wolves over a period of 9 days in 2003 in New Mexico. According to the family who owned the calves, the only reason this one was found was because of the tracking collar on the wolf. Notice that, unlike most predators, wolves don't kill, then eat. They eat living animals. Those animals scream until they finally die.

Mexican wolves were reintroduced by the federal government (USFWS) via the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Eastern Arizona/Western New Mexico in 1998. Since that time, the wolves have gravitated to livestock and the yards of families living in that part of Arizona and NM. There is a Facebook site that relates ongoing interactions with Mexican wolves called Wolves, Cattle, and the People Who Live Between Them. If you go to this site, there is a video of Arizona Rep. Jamescita Peshlakai speaking at the 12/3/2013 showing of "Wolves in Government Clothing." Many people who attended this event testified to the adverse social and economic effects, including Steve Titla who represented the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The tribe has been devastated by the introduction of the Mexican wolves next to their reservation. Everybody thought Rep. Peshlakai would be against the Mexican wolves that were hurting rural families. We were wrong. She voted AGAINST every anti-Mexican wolf bill: HB2699, SB1211, SB1212, and SCR1006.

The following accounts represent a small fraction of the harsh realities that these rural families experience.